FORESTRY COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1696, 12 March 1913, Page 7

FORESTRY COMMISSION.

« SHELTEII BELTS IN OTAGO, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dunedin, March 11. Before the Forestry Commission; Mr. Alexander Bathgato sh'ougly urged- the irrigation of Otago Central, and extensive plantations, as shelter belts, in, t.lic Molyneux Valley, Strath Taieri, and the exposed coasts of the North Island, citing the coastline at Hawerrt as a locality where a shelter belt was much needed. The financial basis of afforestation should be put on a sound footing, so that tho work of planting could bo carried on irrespective of Government changes or financial stringency. ( Tho , Government should appoint a forestry expert. The president of tho Acclimatisation Society declared that it would bo detrimental to afforestation if deer were given unrestricted areas. Where they encroached on young plantations they' should ho reduced by shooting. The Builders' Association expressed a 1 strong opinion that afforestation was urgently required, and of vital importance to tho prosperity of tho Dominion; also that it was of opinion that as the matter was of tlie utmost importance i reafforestation of tho land should bo carried out in a more vigorous manner than in Iho past. Special consideration ought to be given to suitable building timbers. Large areas of the Middle Island could : be planted without encroaching in any way on land suitable for agriculture.